Miramax puts Tykwer over ‘Heaven’

Blanchett in talks to topline pic

German director Tom Tykwer (“Run Lola Run”) will direct “Heaven,” a Miramax co-production with Germany’s X-Filme from a screenplay co-written by the late Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski. Cate Blanchett is in talks to star in the English-language romantic drama, with production scheduled to begin in the next two months.

Miramax, which owns rights outside German-speaking territories, will oversee production and will sell the film at Cannes.

The project could be the first in a trilogy of films based on screenplays by Kieslowski (acclaimed for the trilogy “Red,” “White” and “Blue”) and writing partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz. Miramax owns rights to the trilogy, which would include “Hell” as the second installment and “Purgatory” as the third, but the indie has only committed to “Heaven.”

Miramax bought the rights to “Heaven” from Noe Films, which will remain involved in the project as a producer along with Berlin-based X-Filme. The budget will top $11 million.

Agnes Mentre, exec vice president of acquisitions and co-productions, brought the film to Miramax. The film will be overseen by Mentre along with Miramax London chief Allan Rich and Teresa Moneo, Miramax’s senior vice president in London, reporting to Meryl Poster, co-president of Miramax production.

Andrew Herwitz, Miramax’s vice president of business affairs and acquisitions, negotiated the deal with Noe, which was repped by Frederique Dumas. Cedric Jeanson, exec vice president international, and Stuart Ford, vice president of business and legal, negotiated with X-Filme’s Maria Kopf and Stefan Arndt.